Electric vacuum milking-machine.



G. B. GRAMP.

ELECTRIC VACUUM MILKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION mum mm: 17, 1909.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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WITNESSES INVENTOR 6201905 Omp Arm/mars Patented Ma1p22, 1910.

G. B. GRAMP.

ELECTRIC VACUUM MILKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1'7, 1909.

Patented Mar. 22, 1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR 622 012 05 E. 6924MB 1 ATTORNEYS G. B. CHAMP.

ELECTRIC VACUUM MILKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 17, 1909.

Patented Mar. 22, 1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

a 1 z 1/ 1 I l llllllll WITNESSES ZQfll IN VEN TOR GEO/P615 B. 6MP

ATTOR/VE Y8 e. B. GRAMP.

ELECTRIC VACUUM MILKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 17, I909.

Patented Mar. 22, 1910.

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lNl/E/WOR rmmm 6137086515 6222240 WITNESSES 7% GEORGE 3mm camp, or DUQUESNE, rnnnsynvanm.

ELECTRIC vacuum Max ne-Maritime.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 22,1910.

Application filed June 17, 1909. Serial No. 502,716-.

To all whom it mwy comm.

Be it known that I GEORGE B. CRAMP, a citizen of the United tates, and a resident of Duquesne, in the county of Allegheny and State of-Pennsylvania, have made certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Vacuum Milking-Machines, of which the following is as Specification.

My invention relates to improvements in electric vacuum milking machines and it consists in the combinations, constructions and arrangements herein described and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide adevice which is to a certain extent automatic in its operation and which will thereface, not require so much oi: the service of the attendant as in other devices which do not. have this automatic feature.

A further object of my invention is to provide a special form of electro-magnetic automatic vacuum-shut-ofi valve for stopping the action of the vacuum on the cessation of the flow of milk thereby avoiding all danger of injury to the cow which may be more or less sensitive to" an unnecessarily continued operation.

A further object of. my invention is to provide a device whose operation more nearly simulates that of the manual operation than those heretofore made.

' A further object of my invention is to provide an electro magnetic vacuum air pulsator for alternately shutting off and applying a vacuum to the milking tubes, the disconnection between the pulsator and the pail being easily accomplished so as to permit of a thorough cleaning of the top 'of the pail by immersion in water if necessary, without injury to any of the other working parts of the machine.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification andthe novel features of the device will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which similar reference characters indicate like parts in the several views and in which- Figure 1 is a side view showing the appathe line 5-5 of Fig. 3; Fig; 6 is-a horizontal section along the line 6-6 of Fig. 3;-Fig. 7 is a vertical section through the electromagnetic vacuum air pulsator; Fig. 8 is a seetiona-l view along the line 8-8 of Fig. 7; and Fig. 9 is avertical central section through the pulsator pro er at right angles to the section shown in ig. '1; Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the'valve of the pulsator'; Fig. 11 is a section through the valve of the pulsator.

In order to give a clear explanation of the -o eration and advantages of my improve milking device, it W111. be necessary to consider-the conditions which the machine has to meet. In the ordinary milking operation when the flow of milk from a teat stops it will be found that on returning utter-weird the fiow' may be again started. If then the operation is discontinued at the first cessation of the flow of milk the milking operation will then be incomplete, unless the cow is stripped by hand. Moreover with the ordinary inil-king machine the attendant has no way of knowin when the milking operation has been comp eted and it is necessary that he allow the machine to operate until thereis no longer a flow, which as stated before, will sometimes result in injury to the cow.

In order to,provide a device in which the vacuum is automatically shut off when the flow of milk. is stopped, I'have constructed the apparatus which iS-SllOWIl in detail in 3 and'5.

eferring now particularly to Fig. 5, I have shown therein a main casing A. which is provided with the four' cells a a a, and

a, grouped about a central tube B and having the laterally extending tubes 2), b", b

and b communicating with the main tube- B, and with each of the cells through the respective openings 0, c 0 and c. Secured to the up er nets D, l provided with a stationar metal core d, d, d and 01* respectively. xtendin top of the casing A and dis ose 1 centrally between the ma ets is a tu e E having a" restricted centra assa e e; This tube bears at its top an air lter of which are secured the respective valves.

g, 9 y and g, each valve being cored .out

from time having a screen f, throu h which the air may be drawn, and. material f for filtering the same. In the part of the casing are the mag- D and D. Each magnet being netic coil is connected at one end to a common rin Fig. 3', 1s secured.v The other end of each magnetic coil is connected to its respective spring contact a, s, s, etc. The other bat te wire h is electrically connected with the plate I .to which thefcores are fastened and which is pro erly insulated from the ct coils, but is in electrical connection wit the casing A through the various arts of. the framework. Secured in the wa sof each of the cells is an insulated lug such as that shown at P, P P orhaving the terminals p, '32,, p and pfl'ithe 'free en of each of the terminals be disposed in the lowest part of, the cell and eing in close to the walls thereof as shown in roximitg Fig. 5. ach of the terminals 12, p and 12 1s in, electrical connection with t e spring S, S, S or S which bears on a-companion' spring 8', s, s or 8 at the upper end of the casin A. These springs are msulated from the p ate I and the casing A and are so arranged that by pressing on the lower spring they may be both forced into electrical connection with a lug L, L L or L, on the v a 1 V v a Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, I have main casing A. The pulsator is shown in Figs.- 7 8 and 9. In Fig. 7 the milk pail is shown at 1, and is provided with a cover .2 which fits closely to the canand is provided with the usual gasket or acking 3 to prevent the entrance of air. T e cover 2 has. acentral integral -magnet 5 is provi extension which forms the casing proper of the pulsator. A magnet 5 is secured to the top of the casing 4 by-means of a threadedring 6 as clearl shown in Fig.- 7. The

d ed with a core. 7 which extends part-way into the central opening 8 and is provided with an adjusting screw 9 having a rod 10 for limiting the movement of the armature 11 this being one of the means for regulating the speed of the pulsator. The atter consists of a magnetic plunger to which is attached the valve mechanism for operating the pulsator. This valve mechanism consists of a cylindrical.

- 7 member 12 arranged to fit snugly on the inside of the casing 4.' In one side of the valve 12 is a passage 13 'leading to an'opening 14 in one side of-another portion of the valve. Thedatter opening is adaptedv toregister-with anopenin 15 in the side of the casing 4. On one si e of the interior of the casing 4 is a slot-'16. for the reception of the key 16 shown inlFig. 8, while on the o posite side is an air filter 17 of the form ady described which communicates by means ofa tube 18 with ,the interior of the valve 12 when the latter is in a certain posi- 1 tion,-as will be hereinafter explained. Y

-Bcferring now to Fig. which the H to which a battery wire it see regulated b the spec valve 12 is shown in a shifted position it will be seen that there is a small passage 19 leading from the bottom 2 to a point 20 which is above the top of the valve 12 when the latter is in its lower osition and which is below the top of the va vewhen the valve is in its upper position as. shown in Fig. 9. The opening through this assage may be means. of a t umb screw 21, thlsbein t e second'means for regulating of the pulsator, which should be about twenty pulsations a minute.

In Figs. 7, 9 and 101 have shown a central partition 12 dividing the lower portion of the valve 12 into two-parts. This is for the purpose of preventing the milk from one cow from fallin into the side of the pail which is-being ed by the milk of another cow when more than one cow is being milked. I

v In Figf 8 I have shown the tubes 22 which lead to theteat cups, not shown. The latter may be of any approved type. Between the vacuum tubes 22 and the casing 4 are the glass observation tubes 23 which communicate with the openings 15in the. casing. The cylindrical valve 12 is-kept from rotating by means of. a key 16,' as shown in thisshown therein theassemblage of the apparatus which constitutes the main features of the present invention. It will be seen that the milk receptacle or can 1 has connected with it in the manner already described the tubes 22 which connect at one end with the lower art of the tube B of the automatic shut-o valve] The tubes 24 and 25 are .connected to the endsof the tubes b and b respectively and lead to the teat cups Q. In the drawing. I have shown three of these cups butobviously fourwould' be provided for the four'tubes b bflib and b or any number of cu' s may be used correspondin cable 27 which is secured to the connecting plug 28 which is connected with the source of current's'u ply. From the oregoing description of the various partsof thefldevlcethe o eration thereof may be readily understoo The apparatus is arranged as thus described and thecups are applied to the-teats of the cow.- The vacuum pump is started and a vacuum is created inside of the milk receptacle 1. The magnetifyit will be observed, is connected to the-source of current and being energized tends to attract the ar- .mature 11 which takes the position shown in Fig. 9,. uncovering the openings 15 leadmove r ingkto the tubes-22 thereb drawing the mi down into the on s an through these tubes into the receptac e 1. The passa e 13 is still in connection with the tube 18, 10wever, through a small downwardly extending passage 13, so that the air going in through the-air filter 17 (see Fig. 8) passes up slowly into the tube 13, and thence into the space 12 above the valve 12 by means of a recessed portion 4 in the casing 4, the lower end of which, as clearly shown in Fig. 9, now registers with the upper portion of the tube 13.- It will also be seen that the lower part of the assage 13 is still in communication with t e pipe 18, so that the air may as directly into the space 12". With the a ditional pressure on top of the valve and a vacuum below, the valve is .forced away'fromthe magnet and drops into the position shown inFi 7. In this position the tube 13 registers with the tube 18 through which the air is drawn and as will be seen from Fig. 7, the opening 14 registers with the opening 15 leading to the teat cups thereby cutting ofi the vacuum and thus stopping the flow of milk. The downward movement of the valve 12 now has uncovered the passage 19 at the point 20 and the-air in the space 12 is therefore exhausted through the small passage 19. As soon as the pressure above the valve; is lowered sutficiently the magnet again attracts its armature thereby carrying up the valve and again uncovering the opening 15 to the vacuum in the milk receptacle thereby drawing in the milk again. As soon as enough air is admitted above the valve the latter is forced away from the ma et into its lower position. At each upwarg movement of the valve the passage 19 is closed as is shown in Fi 9. Thus a pulsating movement is maintained and the cups Q are intermittently subjected to the vacuums followed by alternate periods when the vacuums are relieved. This simulates the ordinary manual process of milking to a marked degree.

Referring now to the operation of the automatic shut-off device, the normal position of the valves g, 9 g and g is that of the valve g shown in Fig. 5. As soon as the vacuum pump is started or any time there-.

after the operator presses one of the springs S, S S or S thereby completing t e circuit of the respective magnets D, D D and D which draws up the valve and permits the suction to draw in the milk Let us consider the tube I), through which the milk is now flowing. The milk comes through this tube, passes through the opening 0 into the cell a and soon covers up the terminal p. The moment this terminal is covered up an electrical connection is established for the magnet D which holds up its core and therefore keeps the valve 9 0 en. The milk gradually runs out the smal passage .2 but has been completely exhausted of milk by the machine performing a complete 0 eration, then the circuit of the magnet 3 is broken and the valve G drops down thereby closin both the connection of the tube 1) with te tube B and also with the cell a thus protecting theanimal from injurious action by a continued operation of the vacuum, and also acting in response to a natural requirement which demands that the suc-. tion be discontinued when milk no longer flows froin a teat. The admission of air to the restricted channel e in the tube E prevents the rushing back of the milk into the tubes 6, 6 ,1) etc. when the suction has been relieved by means of the pulsator. Each of the other cells and valves work in precisely the same manner.. It should be the duty of the operator at intervals to start the valve mechanism by ressing each sprin S, S, S or S after wlich he may atten to other matters while the machine is working automatieally. Each time the milk refuses to come, the articular valve belonging to the cell into w ich the milk is'flowing shuts off the vacuum in the manner described. It will be only necessary for the operator to manipulate the contact springs a few times while with other machines he must necessarily watch the operation to see that the device is not working after all of the milk has been extracted. Moreover in most other devices there is no means for discontinuing the action on one cup after the operator is fully satisfied that there is no more milk to be obtained.

I claim;

1. In a vacuum milking machine, a series of teat cups, a vacuum milk rece tacle, a valve casing, tubes connecting sai cups with said valve casing, a common tube connectin said valve casing with said milk receptacle, means for alternately exhausting the air from and admitting to said common tube, and magnetically operated valves in said casing controlled by the flow of milk for shutting off the vacuum from said cups.

2. In a vacuum milking machine, a series of teat cups, a vacuum milk receptacle, a valve casing provided with separate cells, a tube connecting each of said cups with one of said cells, a magnetically controlled valve arranged to cut ofi' communication between said cell and said cup, a common tube connectin said valve casing with saidmilk receptac e and an electro-magnet for each cell, controlled by the flow of milk, for actuating the valve.

3. In a vacuum milking machine, a series of teat cups, a vacuum milk receptacle,

be open. Now when the milk runs connections between said cups" and said receptacle, and magnetic means for alternately exposing said cups to the vacuum in said re ceptacle, and to a normal air pressure, said means comprising a permanent magnet hav- 7 mg an armature 1n the form of a piston, and

a cylinder providedwith openings and a passage, the movement ofsa1d piston beingarranged to cover and uncover certain of i said 0 enings and to expose the upper end into cells, valves 1n said valve casing, a ceninto cells, a central tube dispose 30 traltube carried by said valve casin laterally extending tubes connected wit said central tube, said lateral tubes having openings into the cells, flexible tubes connecting said lateral tubes with said cups, and electro-manetic'means for simultaneously cutting o 5. In a vacuum milking machine, an automatlc cut-off comprlslng a casl divlded said cells, passages connecting each of said cells with'said central tube, lateral tubes ex} tending from said central tube and com- 1* the communication of the central tube and a cell from the lateral tube;

between stasis municating witls saidcells, a valve for simultaneously shutting off the communication a between said central tube and said lateral tubes and said cells and said lateral tubes, a series of magnets for actuating said valves,

a terminal in 'each of said cells, the terminal being arranged to be electrically connected with the valve casing when submerged by a conducting liquid for operating the magnet cont-rolllng the communication with said cell.

6. In-a vacuum milking machine, a pulsator having a permanent magnet provided with armature having the form of a piston, a

cylindrical casing arranged. to receive said piston and having a restricted passage therethrough, means for regulating the size of the passage, said cylinder having openings, one

of said openings being exposed to the vacuum and arran ed to be closed by movement of said cylind er, said moyement also serving to expose the upper part of the passage to said vacuum, said cylindrical casing having communication with the outer atmosphere and being provided with a restricted passage arranged to register with passages in said piston to permit the air at normal pressure ,to enter the cylinder above said piston.

' qEoRGE BERKLEY CHAMP.

Witnesses: a FRANKLIN M. FARWELU, Euros J. Wxson. 

